Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-14
TIE rELEGRAPR PROBLEM.

The IELE ERAEH FfEOOL H4h'
The announcement that the Western
Union Telegraph Company had absorbed
its spirited rival, the Baltimore and OHIO
Telegraph Company, has caused consid-
cradle comment in the leading papers OF
the country and schemes for checkmating
Gould's advances and curtailing his vast
power are being discussed. AS
usual in such instances the remedy
proposed is worse than the disease.
The New York Sun is moved to remark
that the consolidation is little less than
public calamity, but warns Mr.. Gould
that he cannot unload upon the govern
ment. It is not clear that Mr.. Gould and
his associates desire TO dispose Of their
telegraph interests. The investment is s
good one, and good investments are what
capitalists are seeking now sdsys. The
power possessed by the managers and
owners of such vast system OF
telegraph as is the Western Union cannot
be estimated, and unless Mr.. Gould con-
templated withdrawing from all public
enterprises he is not likely to desire q
transfer Of such valuable auxiliary as
the telegraph system under his control.
The Sun proposes no remedy. "It's
long lane that has no turning" says that
paper ssgely, and further on vouchsafes
the information that "there will
be other independent telegraphs,
too" Like the little dolls dressmsker,
who always believed that "some one"
would come for her, marry her, and make
her fine lady, the Sun vaguely hints at
the possibility of other systems Of tele-
graphy which will compete with the great
monopoly, but fails to explain upon what
it bases its belief or what "some one"
is going to build them, since the history
OF the telegraph is a succession OF wrecks
of competing lines. The Chicago jour
nal thinks that the government should
enter the field and build competing lines
to every point reached by the Western
Union. The effect Of this would be
to Withdraw business from the Gould sys-
TEN and render that plant worthless.
From an economic standpoint, confsca-
ton would be preferable to this. II the
government would step in and demand
that the Western Union should be sur
rendered to it without paying one cent
therefor, the property at least would only
change ownership and remain an item in
the wealth Of the country. If, On the
other hand, competing lines were built,
the loss to the Western Union owners
would be as great and their property
would no longer figure in the assets OF
the country as it would be valueless.
There are other papers that, while admit
| ting that Jay Gould will eventually alb
sorb every line Of telegraph in the coun-
try, oppose government ownership on the
ground that it is too great centralizs-
ton of power in the hands OF the govern
ment. The inconsistency of such posi-
ton is SO glsring as to make it appear
positively dishonest. II the power must
be centralized, who would not prefer
seeing it in the hands OF the
government-in the hands Of men elected
by the people, rather than in the hands Of
Jay Gould or any other individual who
WAS independent Of the votes Of the peo-
ple2 There is good deal Of cheap rhet-
ORIG in all these gloomy forebodipgs and
prophetic warnings. The country will not
beHiniured in such serious manner by
the consolidation. People naturally
would have preferred the competing sys-
TEN, but il that can not exist, protection
against extortion may be had without
either building competing lines or gov
eminent ownership. The cost OF the sys-
tenn Can be fairly estimated, the water
squeezed out, and fair return
on the actual investment can be arranged
by the government. In other words, gov
eminent control instead of government
ownership will solve the problem. If it
is fact that the Baltimore and Ohio
has been merged into the Western Union
the end of competitive telegraphy IN
America is st hand. There never can be
system built up which will be able to
live. The only thing remsining to do is
to keep this power within proper bounds,
and this can be done without trouble.
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Mothers Smiles are the Sunlight OF Home.
There would be fewer clouds and